How Much Does It Cost to Visit Peru?

Hey there! Peru is hands - down one of the most amazing places I've ever been to. Seriously, every moment was a blast (and I'll spill the beans on why in this blog post). And here's the best part: it can be super affordable, as long as you don't go overboard with fancy dinners in Lima or private guided hikes.

If you're gearing up for a trip to Peru and scratching your head over how much cash you'll need, you're in the right place. In this post, I'll dish out all the deets on how much I spent, where I made some oopsies, what the typical prices are, and how you can pinch some pennies.

Table of Contents

1. How Much I Spent

2. Suggested Budgets

3. Typical Prices

4. Budget - Saving Tips

5. Plan Your Trip to South America

6. Book Your Trip to Peru: Logistical Tips and Tricks

How Much I Spent

During my 16 - day Peru adventure, I hit up Lima, Arequipa, Cusco, and did some epic hikes around the Sacred Valley. In total, I shelled out $4,992.63 USD, which works out to $312 per day. Here's the breakdown (in USD):

• Accommodation: $1,246.51

• Food: $795.96

• Guides tips: $45.90

• Tours / Activities: $162

• Transportation: $80.96

• Private tours (see below): $1,770

• Internal flights: $480.06

• Travel insurance: $73.92

• Gear: $337.32

Now, I know what you're thinking - that's a lot more than you'd probably spend. And you're right! Here's why:

• First off, Lima is a foodie's paradise with some of the world's top - notch restaurants. I couldn't resist and ended up dining at quite a few of these places, which really jacked up my food bill.

• Second, for work reasons, I splurged on private tours for my guided hikes in Cusco. But hey, you probably won't do that when you travel. Without those private tours, my daily cost would've dropped to just $200 USD!

• Third, since I was short on time and had a lot of ground to cover, I flew between most destinations instead of taking those long overnight buses. And because of work, I had to change some flights last minute, and yep, that meant paying change fees.

• Finally, I treated myself to a super fancy hotel in Cusco for a couple of nights. That alone accounted for 50% of my accommodation costs. You only live once, right?

So, how much should the average traveler budget for a Peru trip? Well, definitely less than me! Here are some more realistic budget suggestions:

Suggested Budgets

Backpacker Budget

If you're a backpacking enthusiast, I'd say plan for $50 - 80 USD per day (185 - 300 PEN). On this budget, you'll be crashing in hostel dorms, chowing down at those cool hole - in - the - wall restaurants and cafes, taking it easy on the drinks, using public transportation and overnight buses, and doing a few paid activities and tours. If you're the party - all - night type, you'll be closer to the higher end of this range.

Midrange Budget

If you want to more or less follow my itinerary (minus the private tours), you'll need $150 - 200 USD per day (560 - 750 PEN). This will get you private rooms in hostels or two - or three - star hotels, a few of those fancy meals Peru is known for, all the drinks you can handle, flights within the country, and any tours and activities you've been dreaming of. You can adjust this budget by $30 - 50 USD per day depending on if you're staying in swanky brand - name hotels, taking domestic flights, or partying like there's no tomorrow.

You can use the price list below to help you plan your own budget.

Typical Prices

Wondering what things cost in Peru? Here are some typical prices (in Peruvian soles, or PEN for short). The higher numbers are what you'll pay at the fancier, top - rated places (and sometimes even more). Most other spots in Peru are on the lower end.

• Hostel dorms: 40 - 100 PEN per night

• Hostel private room: 100 - 250 PEN per night

• Budget hotel: 110 - 300 PEN per night

• Global chain hotel: +375 PEN per night

• Appetizers: 20 - 30 PEN

• Ceviche: 40 - 60 PEN

• Main course dishes: 40 - 60 PEN

• Cuy (guinea pig, a local delicacy): 55 PEN

• Burgers: 20 - 28 PEN

• Sandwiches: 12 - 15 PEN

• Fast food combos: 15 - 20 PEN

• Pizza: 25 - 60 PEN

• Dessert: 20 - 40 PEN

• Water (at a restaurant): 4 - 10 PEN

• Soda: 4 - 7 PEN

• Coffee: 5 - 10 PEN

• Iced coffee: 13 - 15 PEN

• Tea: 5 - 12 PEN

• Beer: 15 PEN

• Wine: 29 - 45 PEN

• Cocktails: 25 PEN

• Museum entry: 10 - 20 PEN

• Ubers: 10 - 20 PEN

• Taxis: 15 - 30 PEN

• Intra - country flights: 150 - 300 PEN

• Guided Machu Picchu hike/tour: 3,000 - 6,000 PEN

Budget - Saving Tips

Saving money in Peru is a piece of cake! Your biggest expenses will likely be accommodation, domestic flights, multi - day guided tours, and fancy dining. But if you keep an eye on those, you'll be golden. Public transportation is cheap, Ubers are dirt - cheap, and Peruvian restaurants won't break the bank. Here are some money - saving tricks:

• Bring a water bottle: Tap water isn't safe to drink, so bring a reusable water bottle with a filter. I love LifeStraw - their bottles have built - in filters to keep your water clean and safe. It saves money and cuts down on plastic waste!

• Travel off - season: The cheapest times to visit are during the shoulder months of January - April or November - December. Prices are usually lower then.

• Take the colectivos: These are inexpensive shared minivans that cost around 10 PEN per ride. They leave when they're full and are a great way to get from one city to a nearby one (within a two - hour range).

• Use Uber: It's available in all major cities and is super cheap. You'll never pay more than a few bucks per trip, and it's often cheaper than taxis.

• Book tours at the last minute: If you're up for the Inca Trail and have some extra time to wait for a deal, show up in Cusco and book a last - minute tour. You could save a bundle! But don't do this if you're short on time, as you might have to wait days for a spot.

• Go on a free walking tour: It's a fun way to learn about the history of the places you're visiting and make sure you don't miss any must - see spots. Free Walking Tour Peru has great tours in all the major cities.

• Get student discounts: If you're a student, don't forget to carry your student card. You can get major discounts (up to 50% off) at archaeological sites and museums in Cusco and the surrounding area.

• Limit your fine dining: Peru is a food lover's dream, with some of the world's best restaurants (Central, the number one restaurant in the world, is here!). But dining at these places usually costs $100 USD or more (375 PEN), so skip it if you're trying to save.

• Book LATAM flights using the New Zealand website: For some strange reason, LATAM has cheaper prices on its NZ website compared to the US site. Even if you're not from NZ, you can book through it with no issues.

• Take Peru Hop: It's a backpacker hop - on/hop - off bus that travels set routes around the country. They include a lot of activities, and the guides are awesome. Plus, they run on time and have free Wi - Fi. Even locals use it because it's such a good deal.

• Hit the happy hours: In all major destinations, you can find two - for - one happy hours, food specials, and other discounts. Just ask at your hostel or hotel, or Google to find out what places are offering deals.

Peru can fit any budget. It has swanky restaurants, fancy resorts, private guided hikes, and upscale jungle lodges for those with a big wallet. But it also has amazing local transportation, affordable hotels and restaurants, and cheap group tours. Hope this post helps you make the most of your trip, no matter how much you're willing to spend.

Plan your trip to South America

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Book Your Trip to Peru: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight

Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. It's my go - to search engine because it scours websites and airlines all over the world. You can be sure you're getting the best deal.

Book Your Accommodation

For hostels, Hostelworld has the biggest selection and the best deals. If you'd rather stay somewhere else, Booking.com usually has the cheapest rates for guesthouses and budget hotels.

Don't Forget Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is a must - have. It protects you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. I never travel without it - I've had to use it plenty of times. My favorite companies for great service and value are:

• Safety Wing (great for everyone)

• Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

• Medjet (for extra evacuation coverage)

Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With?

Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money on the road. They'll help you save too!

Want More Information on Peru?

Head over to my detailed destination guide on Peru for even more planning tips!